Any frugal, yet style minded individuals out there need to know where to get a great pair of glasses?  Well, I know just the place!  Warby Parker.  Not only are their frames crazy fashion forward and adorable, they only cost $95.

Uh, yeah… $95 for:

-  The Frames

-  Polycarbonate Lenses

-  High Index Lenses, when necessary

-  Anti-Reflective Coating

-  Anti-Scratch Coating

All of that for $95!  (Ok, I know I sound a little like I’m on an infomercial right now…)  

I really couldn’t believe it though, since just the frames usually cost double that.  I found out a month ago, that for the first time in my life  I was going to needs glasses.  (Ugh!)  I about choked when they started tallying up how much it was going to cost.  The frames I liked, of course, were all well over $200.  Then, to top it off…if I wanted my lenses not to scratch or to be ok at the computer screen I had to pay even more.  Who would have guessed a pair of glasses would cost that much?  They really are just plastic or thin metal right??  (You’d think they were made out of gold or platinum.)  I am just lucky I’ve been able to wait this long until I needed a pair.

In my true fashion, I started looking for less expensive alternatives.  I went to Sam’s, where they had inexpensive frames, but then I’d still be looking at over $200 total with the lenses. Off to the computer, I started searching for alternatives online.  Then I found the Holy Grail of glasses – Warby Parker.  If you’re like me and think they sound too good to be true,  you can read about how they are able to keep prices so low here.

The only problem I have with buying glasses online, is not being able to try them on.  (I did try on over 40 pairs at the eye doctor – some too big and clunky, others too weird for my face. This has been the worst part of needing glasses now – I’m not used to seeing myself in them at all.)

Dare I say it though, Warby Parker took care of that too.  They offer a 5 Day Home Trial for up to 5 different frames at a time, at no cost to you.  They provide the shipping, return shipping and all of the frames you select to try on.  It all comes in this fabulous little black box.  I recently ordered 5 pairs, and it was the coolest thing.  I got to try them on for family and friends, and wore them off and on for a couple of days to see which I truly loved.   How cool!?!

I narrowed my choices down to two …

Just thought I’d help all of you last minute Valentines out a bit today, with these printable cards.  Simply download the .pdf of the card, and print on a full sheet of letter sized card stock.  Next, cut along the grey line and fold down the center.  Voila!  Instantly adorable Valentines for the sweethearts in your life.  Hope you all have a wonderful day today, you guys are totally the biscuits to my gravy!

Download the Peanut Butter & Jelly card here.

Download the Biscuits & Gravy card here.

1 – You can make adorable felt hearts to pin on to your bag, shirt or any other place you think it’d be cute to tack one of these little guys.  I love a good simple craft, that doesn’t take much time, but that provides instantly sweet results.  You can find How To instructions on Purl Bee. I found this wonderful DIY by way of Going Home to Roost, one of my favorite blogs!

2 – Or, you could make cake pops for your sweet heart.  Who doesn’t love cake on a stick? Nothing to complain about there…  These adorable guys are from Amy Atlas Events, and her site is full of wonderful party inspiration and “Eye Candy.”  If you’d like to know how to make cake pops, which seem crazy hard to make, but are actually quite easy…you can go to Bakerella.com for all things “Cake Pop.”

3 –  This is such a great idea!  Paperless Post gives you all the elegance of a paper love note, with the modern convenience of email.  Paperless Post is a great alternative for eco-minded people, looking to stop  yet another card from being tossed in to the wastebasket post-Valentine’s Day.  It’s also great for the last minute cupids out there, who realize in a flash, that they want to send a gushingly romantic poem to their lovers tout de suite!

Paperless Post even has a “Wording Assistant,” to help you figure out the perfect thing to say. It might not be straight from the heart, but even the best writers need a good editor.  They even let you pick your fonts and envelope that your card “mails” in.  They start you off with 25 “stamps,” making your cards free for all of your Valentines this year.

4 – Paper Pom Poms are my favorite party decoration!  Not only are they colorful, adding instant fun to any room, they are the biggest bang for your buck as far as party decorations go. All you need is some tissue paper, twisty ties and fishing line to hang them.  They remind me of Alice in Wonderland or The Secret Garden, simply magical, like huge flowers floating around the room.  Make some in pinks, reds and purples for Valentine’s Day and you’re sure to feel the love.  You can find the How To on Martha Stewart.com.  If you don’t have the patience, or just want to make life a little easier, you can head on over to Etsy and get some pre-made party poms from Orange Kisses.

I hope everyone has …

a bowl of Corn Flakes.

Yes, my apron took a break today… Hey!  It’s Saturday!  Nothing too fancy or glamourous, just a big bowl of Corn Flakes.  I loved it all the more for it’s simplicity, just open a box and pour.  That’s not even the best part of it, since I paid only 25 cents for the box.

I know… I’ve said it before, “I am NOT a Coupon Queen!”  I never really wanted to put in the time and effort it takes to cut coupons, UNTIL I saw the show about coupon clippers on TLC.  Why didn’t anyone ever tell me you can get things for free (or close to free) with coupons??  I always thought it was 50 cents here, 25 there, but nope, not true.  If you pair double coupons with the right sales the results can apparently be amazing.  So, a few weeks ago I set out on a mission to find a coupon site that helped take all of the work out of it.  (Yes, sometimes I love being a little lazy, or at least love spending my time doing things other than clipping coupons.)

And yes, I found a paradise for non-coupon, coupon clippers.  Passion for Savings gives you the rundown of what’s on sale, where, and what coupons to print from your computer to match.  That’s how I snagged 3 boxes of Corn Flakes for just 25 cents each.  I also got deodorant for extra cheap and a few other things for around the house.  I must say it has taken the boring out of coupons.  It’s one of my new favorite sites, I don’t have to work very hard and I get to buy things for dirt cheap…what’s not to love?

Anyways, after my big bowl of Corn Flakes, I think I’m going to take it easy today.  We’re going out to lunch with one of my favorite aunt’s who’s visiting my parents here in Arkansas. Then, hopefully we’ll get to enjoy the almost 50 degree day.  What a welcomed break from snow and cabin fever.  Ahh…  I love the weekends, you get to eat cereal and take it easy! Hope you enjoy yours!